Oil rectifier



' Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,490

I F. E. CARTER OIL RECTIFIER Filed June 11, 1927 INVENTOR. Fran/v Edward Car'fefl;

A TTORNE YS.

- for vaporization.

Patented Feb.-12, 1929.

UNITED sT TEs PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK EDWARD CARTER, or BRAWLEY, cALIroRNIA;

on. RECTIFIER.

Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to an oil rectifier forming an element of a lubrication system forv internal combustion engines wherein there is a circulation of oil subjected todilution by a more volatile liquid. The present invention relates more especially to aut,omobile engines; The effects of dilution of the crank case oil of engines operated by carbureted liquid fuel, such as gasoline are well known. The crank caselubr cant'isless volatile than the fuel liquid and therefore the latter can be separated from the lubricant by the application of heat so asto attain the temperature of vaporization of the diluent an opportunity being afforded for the latter to pass off from the circulatory system or to be withdrawn. pecially that of the exhaust gases will serve vention to provide a simple compact and efficient rectifier which has no movingparts and requires no adjustmentsor manipulation. I

These objects together with; other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by; means of the embodiment of'm-y invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which: i

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing an internal combustion engine such as is used in an automobile with my improved oil rectifier mounted thereon; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of the rectifier; Flg. 3 1s a section asseen on thebroken line 33 of Fig.

2; and Fig. 4 is a plan viewon areduced scale of the rectifier.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing, especially Fig. 1, a gasoline engine 7 is indicated. by 5, and isprovided with the usual crank case for lubricating oil supplied to the pistons andcylinder walls. An exhaust manifold is marked 6 and the intake manifold 7. A carbureter is indicated by 8.

Mounted upon the exhaust manifold'is the rectifier 9 having tubing 10 leading from its upper chamber to the intake manifold. 'Intake tubing for lubricating oil is indicated by 11 and discharge tubing 12 'serves for the removal of the, treated lubricant oilfrom the rectifier. The rectifier is preferably connected on the intake .side of the usual oil pump although this position is not essential.

It is merely necessary that the rectifier be interposed inthe circulation system.

The rectifier proper comprises a receptacle 14 having a wall 15 extending lengthwise 'inlet and outlet of oil.

receptacle.

Thejheat. ofthe engine es- It is an object of this in-' 1921 Serial No. 198,190,

of the receptacle and ending short of the wall opposite tothe tubing connections for the Baffle plates 16 extend from the wall 15andalternate with walls 17 extending from the opposite wall of the The receptacle is thus construct ed so thata tortuous passage isprovided for the lubricant which enters through the tubing passes to, the opposite end of the receptacle and thence in an undulating path passes to the opposite end and out through the disaround the baffles causes stirring and agita-t tion of the same. 7 The upper-I face of the passage in the receptacle is openjto anupper V a rspace of chamber mthe receptacle and extending across the'open face is a pair of screens 18and 19. i Thus a liquid chamber is provided separated from the air chamber by screens. These screens are of a mesh such thatthe vapor may pass freelytherethrough,

but the liguidwhich may splash thereagainst 1s arrested from passage therethrouglr. -Al-.

though two are shown any suitable number may be used The bottom of the receptacle is made of a shape to conform to the exhaust manifold surface with which it contacts so that heat from i-the'exhaust manifold is freely conducted to the receptaclebottom and thence to the oil. The result is that the lubricant fromthe crank case passing through the re ceptacle is heated so that vaporization of the diluent is effected. The vaporized diluent passes through-the screens 18 and 19 and into a vented air chamber'formed by a dome 20.

charge tubing :12. The passage of the oil The dome serves as, a further precaution.

against the passage of lubricant from the receptacle. There is anopening 21 for the passage of the vapor outwardly.

A cover 22 may be disposed over the dome providing a space above the latter into. which be withdrawnthrough tubing. 10 connected thereto. Tubing 10 may be connected to the intake manifold of the engine thereby returnthe vapor may pass and from which it may i ing the inflammable vaporto the engine for I use as fuel. In some instances it may be found ,passing through said receptacle to the air The baffles serve to keep the heated lubricant in agitation so as to free the vapors generated, while the screens prevent splashing with the consequent waste of oil and where the vapors are led to the intake manifold preventing the passage of the liquid lubricant to the latter. The air chamber between cover 22 and dome 20 is open to the atmosphere at the end opposite to tube 10 by way of a slot 23 extending thereacross. This prevents the suction from tube 10 drawing oil up through hole 21. The latter is only for the purpose of permitting the vaporized gasoline to pass into the chamber.

What I claim is: 1. In combination witn an internal conibustion engine having a lubricant circulation "means in which the lubricant is subject to dilution, a receptacle for lubricant interposed in said means for the passage of lubricant through said receptacle and being disposed to have heat transferred thereto from said engine; said receptacle having a vented air chamber at'its upper portion to expose the upper surface of the lubricant passing through said receptacle to the air in said chamber, and a screen disposed between the lubricant and air chamber to permit the passage therethrough of vapor and arrest the passage theret-hrough of liquid lubricant.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricant circulation means in which the lubricant is subject to dilution, a receptacle for lubricant interposed in said means for the passage of lubricant through said receptacle and being disposed to have heat transferred thereto from said engine; said receptacle being shallow and having a vented ai'r chamber at its upper portion to expose the upper surface of the lubricant passingthrough saidreceptacle to the air in said chamber, and a screen disposed between the lubricant and air chamber to per mit the passage therethrough of vapor and arrest the passage of liquid lubricant.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an exhaust conduit, a lubricant circulation means in which the lubricantis subject to dilution, a receptacle for lubricant interposed in said means for the'passage of lubricant through said receptacle andbeing disposed at the exhaust conduit to haveheat transferred therethrough from the exhaust gases; said receptacle having a vented air chamber at its upper portion to expose the upper surface ofthe lubricant in said chamber, and ascreen disposed between the lubricant and air chamber to permit the passage therethrough of liquid lubricant.

4L. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an exhaust conduit, a lubricant circulation means in which the lubricant is subject to dilution, a receptacle for lubricant interposed in said meansfor the passage of lubricant through said receptacle and being disposed at said exhaust conduit to have heat transferred thereto from the exhaust gases; said receptacle being shallow and having a vented air chamber at its upper portion to expose the upper surface of the the air in said chamber, and a screen disposed between the lubricant and air chamber to perni the passa etherethrough of vapors and arrest the passage therethrough of liquid lubricant.

In combination with an internal combustion engine having a lubricant circulation means in which the lubricant is subject to dilutien, a receptacle for lubricant interposed means in which the lubricant is subject to:

dilution, a receptacle for lubricant interposed in said means for the passage of lubricant through said receptacle and being disposed to have heat transferred thereto from said engine; said receptacle being-shallow and having a vented air chamber at its upper portion and a liquid chamber at its lower portion in communication so as to expose the lubricant passing through said liquid chamber to the air in said air chan1ber,t-here being walls in said liquid chamber to define a tortuous passage and cause agitation of the passing lubricant, and a screen disposed between said chambers to permit the passage theretnrough of vapor and arrest the passage therethrough of liquid lubricant.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an exhaust conduit, a lubricant circulation means in which the lubricant issubject to dilution, a receptacle for lubricant interposed in said means for the passage of lubricant through said receptacle and being disposed at said exhaust conduit to have heat transferred thereto from the exhaust gases; said receptacle having a vented air chamber at its upper portion and a liquid chamber at its lower portionin communication so as to expose the lubricant passing through said liquid chamber tothe air in said air chamber, said liquid chamber having a tortuous passage for the lubricant, and a screen disposed betweensaid chambers to permit the passage therethrough of vapor and arrest the passage therethrough of liquid lubricant.

lubricant passing through said receptacle to 7 8. In combination with an internal com-1 bustlon engine havlng an exhaustcondu1t,a lubricant circulation means 1n which the lubricant is subject to dilution, a receptacle,

define a tortuous passage and cause agitation of the passing lubricant, and a screen disposed between said chambers to permitthe passage therethrough of vapors and'arrest the pas-' sage therethrough of liquid lubricant.

, 9.. In combination with an internal combustion enginehaving a lubricantcirculation means in which the lubricant is subject to dilution a receptacle for lubricant interposed v in said means for the passage of lubricant through said receptacle and being disposed to have heat translerred therethrough from saidengine; said receptacle being shallow and having a vented air chamber at its upper portion and a liquid chamber at its lower portion in communication so as to expose the lubricant passing through said liquid chamber to the air in said air chamber, walls in said liquid chamber to provide a tortuous passage for the passing lubricant and to cause agitation of the same, a screen dlsposedbetween said chamber, a receiving chamber 7 above said screen for saidvapor and conduits for the withdrawal of vapor from said receiving chamber. H

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an exhaust conduit, f

a lubricant circulation means in which the lubricant is subject todilution, a receptacle for lubricant interposed in said means for the passage of lubricant through said receptacle and being disposed at said exhaust conduit to have heat transferred thereto from the exhaust gases; said receptacle being shallow andhavinga vented air chamber at its upper portion and'a liquid chamber at its lower portion in communication so as to expose t-he lubricant passing through said li uid chamber to the air in saidair chamber, af-

, fies in saidliquid chamber to provide a tortuous passage, for the passing lubricant and cause agitation of the same, ascreen disposed,

between said chamber, a receivingchamber above said screen for said vapors and conduits for the withdrawal of the vapors from said receiving chamber. I

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th .day of May, 1927. j

' FRANK EDWARD CARTER. 

